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The
re-packaging of 45-minute episodes as 90-minute chapters in
chronological order is a good way to ensure better continuity in the
storyline and to discover the early life of Indiana Jones and how his
interests and personal traits came about.
For Volume One, this
unfortunately means that we are treated to five chapters featuring
10-year old Corey Carrier, and only two with Sean Patrick Flanery.
During the TV series’ original airing, it was Flanery’s episodes that
gained the most attention as they were able to show Indy in full action
mode – riding horses, learning how to use his trademark whip, working
towards becoming an archaeologist, etc.
The other point is that,
because the Corey Carrier episodes were filmed over several years, he
seems to be noticeably older in several second halves of the
joined-together episodes. This is particularly apparent in the
“My First Adventure” chapter.
Having said that, these are minor
distractions from what was a series of stories that were filmed either
on an epic scale in locations around the world or using (what was then)
advanced digital technology. Even better is the various and clever ways
in which Indy’s travels are weaved into settings in which he often
meets historical figures. Let's face it
- George Lucas knows how to entertain!
While I enjoyed this
aspect of the show, I also appreciated the way several stories explored
his relationship with and between his mother and father. Two chapters
highlighted this side of Indy’s family life – “The Perils of Cupid” and
“Travels with Father”. When viewing the latter chapter, it brought
into focus the relationship Harrison Ford (as the older Indy) had with
Sean Connery in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Cheesy
at times, this is an impressive DVD package which is on par with some
of the best action series ever and provides endless hours of
"edutainment" for viewers. This first volume (and the two other
yet-to-be-released volumes) must be revisited on DVD, especially with
the much hyped release of the first new Indy movie in almost 20 years -
Indiana Jones & The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull.
Bring it on!
EXTRAS
A special feature of this Young Indiana Jones
boxset presentation is the carefully researched featurettes that
provide detailed information about the real-life backgrounds to the
people and incidents Indy is exposed to in the stories. I
personally found several very interesting as they filled-in knowledge
gaps I had on such topics as "Archaeology: Unearthing Our Past" (a
short piece that prompts an interest in archaeology) and "The
Archduke's Last Journey: End of an Era" (an interesting look at the
background to World War 1). Of course, there are also several boring
featurettes that you can quickly gloss over, but what DVD doesn't?
There
are actually only seven 90-minute episodic stories featuring Carrier
and Flanery and so it is the extensive number of documentaries that
contributes to the questionably high purchase price. While George
Lucas’ educational intent is to be applauded, I am sure his future
marketing strategy will include DVD re-issues of the stories at a more
reasonable cost without the added featurettes.
The interactive
component of the boxset includes a meticulously produced timeline which
is a way to explore the events outlined in the chapter stories. It is
very impressive with smooth transitions, but could have been improved
if it had included clips from the TV show itself rather than just clips
from the documentaries.
Whip Cracking Fun!
Conclusion: Episodes 90% Extras: 80%
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